Can feeding mechanism



y 1931. o. HQHANSEN CAN FEEDING MECHANISM original Filed sept' 1922 2Sheets-Sheet l y 2, 1931. o. H. HANSEN CAN FEEDING MECHANISM OriginalFiled Sept. 22, 19 2 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 simple and efficient can feed fordeliver Patented lh'lay 12, 1931 l 3llii 243 0R1 'WASHIEGTGH,YV'ISCONSIN CAN FEEDING- lliECl'cIi-LNESRT Original application filedSeptember 22, 1922, Serial No. 589,888. Batent No. 1,877,443, dated July17, 1928.

Divided and this application filed September 25 1926.

This invention relates in general to improvements in the art oftransporting or feeding similar objects in succession, and relates morespecifically to improvements in the construction and operation ofmechanisms for automatically and positively delivering receptacles suchas cylindrical cans in succession downwardly in accurately spat-edrelation to each other.

An object of the invention is to provide a tin cans or similar objectsin a substantial vertical direction.

Some of the more important specific objects oi. the invention are asfollows 2- To provide improved feeding mechanism which is especiallyadapted to positively transport cylindrical objects in succession in adownward direction while the axes of the objects are horizontallydisposed.

To provide a positive feed for relatively frail objects such as tincans, which is operated by impositively acting propelling mechanism inorder to prevent distortion or damage to the objects.

To provide improved can feeding n1echa nism for delivering successivecans downwardly in accurately spaced relation to each other.

To provide other improvements in the details of construction andoperation of can feed mechanisms, whereby the cost of man ufacture isreduced to a minimum and the V etticiency is enhanced to a maximum.

The present application is a division of the application upon whichPatent 1,67? A43, was granted July 17, 1928, which application coversthe novel features of can washer mechanism illustrated but notspecifically claimed herein.

A clear conception of an embodiment of the present invention and of theoperation of feed mechanisms constructed in accordance therewith, may behad by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of thisspecification in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts in the various views.

1 is an elevation of an improved vertical can feed showing the sameapplied to Serial No. 137,787.

a can washing machine having the front cover thereot removed. Fig. 2 isa vertical section through the improved vertical can feeding mechanismand the initial washing chamber of the can washer, k

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the final washing chamber of theimproved can washing machine.

Fig. 4: is a top view of the driving mechanism constituting a part ofthe improved can teed.

The can washer to which the improved can feed has been applied herein byway of llustration, comprises in general a main casing 2 forming a pairof communicating substantially circular chambers; a stationary tubularfluid admission header 3 projecting centrally into each of the chambers;a fluid distributing spider 5 rotatably supported upon each of theheaders 3; a can transpor .1 each of the spiders 5; can supply mechanismassoc atedwith the top of the initial washing cuamber; a can dischargerotor 8 associated with the final cleansing chamber; suitable ing rotor6 rotatably associated t mechanism for driving the various movableelements hotwater and steam supnlvmeans communicating with the initialaird final cleansing chambers res )ectively; a pivotall'v supportedcover 7 for enabling convenient access to all portions of the interiorof the casing 2; and supporting members 2% for suspending the washerfrom the interior ofa factory.

Located above the initial washing Cllllll be and adjustably associatedwith l'he casing 2, is a can supply chute 12 which is adapted to deliverthe successive cans 9 hr gravity, in proximity to the vertical feedmechanism or drum 14L.

timed relation. into the spaces between in successive advancing canhoolzsot the first transporting rotor 6. In order to insure properengagement of the cans 9 with the helicalprojection 15, the wall of thecasing 2 directly opposite and above the inlet feed mechanism, isprovided with guiding projections 43 which are directed downwardly andtoward the rotor 15. These projections l3 function to gently push thesuccessive gravitating cans 1) toward the rotor 1a without distortingthe cans.

The cleansing chambers are provided with peripheral can guiding rails 14which are adapted to conduct the successive cans along a definite 5shaped coijirse during cleansing; thereof. The can porting rotor 6 andthe hot water distrilaiting spider 5 of the initial washing chiunber,are sinniltaneousl} rotatable in an anti-clockwise direction as viewedin Fig. 1, the can hooks of the initial rotor being, formed to receivethe cans 9 in succession from the feed drum 1s: to d liver thepreliminarily washed cans against an a djustable guide 17 which directsthe cans upwardly into the final cleansing chamber. The outerextremities of the arms of tli water distributing spider are providedwith laterally directed hot water discharge nozzles 18 which are formedto deliver the water in the form of films against the side walls andinto the corners of the cans while being; transported by the initialrotor (-3. T he water distributing spider 5 and the adjacent rotor 6,are drivingly connected by parallel pins 11. The rotor ('3 is freelyendwiso removable from the water distributing spider 5 upon removal ofthe cap screw and washer. and the spider 5 is likewise endwise removablefrom the stationary header 3.

The can transporting); rotor i and the steam distributing spider 5 ofthe final cleansing; chamber, are rotatable in a cinch-- wise directionas viewed in Fig.1. 1, the can hooks oi. this rotor being adapted toreceive the cans 9 in succession from the rotor (i of the initialwashing chamber, and to deliver the finally clean. d cans against thecan hooks of the final discharge rotor S which directs the successivecans along: an adjustable discharge guide 20 and downwardly through afinal discharge passage located below the washer. The outer extremitiesof the arms of the steam distributing spider 5 are provided withlaterally directed stean'i nozzles 19, these nozzles being; formed to doliver the steam in the form of films against the side walls and into thecorners of the cans while they are being transported through the finalcleansing chamber. The steam distributing spider 5 and the adjacentrotor 6 are drivingly connected by means of parallel pins 11. The rotor6 of the final cleansing chamber is likewise freely endwise removablefrom the steam distributing spider 5, and the spider 5 is also endwiseremovable from the steam distributing header 3. i

The final discharge rotor 8 is rotatably mounted upon a stations-r Ipivot 29 and is movable in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed inFig. 1. The final can discharge conduit to which the cleansed. cans aredelivered by the rotor 8, is provided with guides 21 which cooperatewith the upper and lower walls of the final discharge passage to deliverthe washed cans into the discharge chute 22. The chute 22 is attached tothe casing 2 and may be positioned to deliver the cans directly to thefillingmachines. The cover 7 attached. to the casing 2 by hinges and maybe locked in closed position by a releasable clamp 26. The cover 7incloses both of the cleansing chambers and the conduits communicatingtherewith, and permits free accessto the entire interior of the washerwith out interfering" with the can inlet and discharge chutes Theinterior of the casing 2 is also provided with suitable passages forconducting water to the drain 21-3.

The driving mechanism for inipartin motion to the movable elements ofthe washer. consists of a pulley 13, a friction clutch 39, a shaft 38si'ipporting the pulley 13 and the clutch 39, gearing 37 connecting theshaft 38 with a vertical shaft 36 upon which the feed orum 14 ismounted, bevel gears 35, 34 drivingly connecting the vertical. shaft 36with a counter shaft 33, a pinion 32 attached to an end of the countershaft 33 and meshing with a gear l: secured. to the hot water distrihutin5); spider 5, a similar gear 4 secured to the steam distributing spider5, and a gear 16 secured. to the final discharge rotor 8 and i'neshin rwith the gear 4 of the steam distributing spider. The drive shaft 38 ismoun ed in hearings in the bracket 10 which is angularly adjustablysupported upon a stationary adjusting: plate 16. The plate 16 isprovided with a plurality of spaced holes 49 formed to receive lockingbolts 12 in order to posi tively position the driving mechanism in adesired position of adjustment. The driving coaction between theelements of the fricti on clutch 39 may be varied by adjustment ofthecoinpression of the spring 40, with the aid of an adjusting nut 41coacting with screw threads on the shaft 38. It will be noted that withthis arrangement of elements, motion is transmitted from the drive shaft38 through the supply drum 14; to the initial washing rotor, from theinitial. 'ash ing rotor to the final cleansing rotor, and from the finalcleansing rotor to the discharge rotor 8.

During normal operation of the washci: power is applied through thepulley 13 to impart continuous rotary motion to the horizontal shaft 38through the friction clutch 39. The rotary motion of the shaft 38 istransmitted through the gear 37 to the can feed drum 14, and through thevertical shaft 36 and ears 35, 34 to the counter shaft 33 and pinion 32.The rotating pinion 32 pr0- IOU duces rotation of the spiders 5, thetransporting rotor 6, and of the final discharge rotor 8, in thedirections heretofore referred to. rls the successive cans 9 gravitatetowarc. the projections 43 on the casing 2, they are pushed endwise bythe upper inclinec surfaces of th se projections, toward the revolvingteed drum 1%, the helical projection of which engages the adjacent endsof the successive The revolving projection 15 cooperates with thegravity feeding to produce positive mechanical feeding, and gentlydeposits the successive cans 9 in the notches between the successive canhooks oi the initial rotor 6 in properly spaced relation. As the cans 9are transported through the initial washing chamber with their open endsexposed to the nozzles 18, hot water is delivered into the cans. As eachcan 9 advances to th space between the two cleansing chambers, interiorbesides being subjected to hot 'ater washing, is gradually andadditionally subjected to the cleansing action of steam. The hot waterjets are eventually removed "from the moving cans 9 as they advancelllUO the final cleansing chamber wherein the can interiors are finallycleansed by the action of steam jets delivered from the nozzles 19. Thecans 9 a e finally delivered by the rotating discharge rotor 8 along thedischarge guide 20 in an obvious manner.

The can teed mechanism insures proper delivery of the cans 9 to themachine without dama in the relatively trail rece tacles. o t: j

It a can 9 should become ammed in the positive feed afforded by the drum14, or between any other moving elements of the machine, the clutch 39will slip and thus avoid damage. The 1:: cover 7 permits free access toall parts of the interior of the washer, and the various elements areconveniently adjustable and removable to produce most etlicient andsanit-c y conditions oi operation. The improved driving mechanismreduces the power consumption to a minimum, and the t 'iction clutch 39serves as a safety device for posiively preventing breakage of parts incase abnormal object enters the machine. The can inlet and dischargechutes 12, 255 cooperating with the angularly adjustable drivemechanism, facilitate convenient location or" the washer, and thevertical feed mechanism is obviously a 'iplicable otherwise than in acan washer. Tiis vertical can feed mecha nism is extremely simple,compact, positive, and automatic in operation and has been found toproduce excellent results in commerci. operation.

lt should be understood that it is not de ed to limit the invention tothe exact details of construction and operation herein shown anddescribed, for various modifications within the scope of the claims mayoccur to persons skilled in the art.

' it is claimed and desired to secure by Lettcrs Patent i. incombination, means forming a chamher and a chute for delivering asuccession of cylindrical cans with their axes horizontal downwardlytoward said chamber, a feed drum having a helical projection extending"ate one side of said chute, said drum being directly engage-able withthe open end edges and said projection being rollably engageable Wiillthe lower curved side portions of the successive cans passing throughsaid chute to retard the travel of upper cans and to deliver thesuccessive lower cans in definitely spaced relation into said chamber,and means associated with the opposite side of said chute for urging thesuccessive cans into op erative engagement with said projection.

2. In combination, means storming a chamber and a chute for delivering asuccession of cylindrical cans with their axes horizontal downwardlytoward said chamber, a movable element rotatable about a substantiallyvertical axis and having a helical projection with which the successivecans passing through said chute are rollably engageable so as to retardthe travel of upper cans and to deliver the successive lower cans singlyand in definitely spaced relation into said chamber, and meansassociated with said chute above said projection for urging thesuccessive cans toward the axis of rotation of and into operativeengagement .with said projection.

3. In combination, means forming a chamher and a chute for delivering asuccession of cylindrical cans with their axes horizontal downwardlytoward said chamber, a teed drum having a helical projection extendinginto said chute, said drum being engageable with the ends and saidprojection being ongageable with the lower side portions of thesuccessive cans passing through said chute to retard the travel of uppercans and to deliver the successive lower cans in definitely spacedrelation into said chamber, and means asso ciated with said chute abovesaid drum for urging the successive cans toward the axis of rotation ofand into operative engagement with said drum and said projection.

4:. in combination, means forming a chamber and a chute for delivering asuccession of cylindrical cans with their axes horizontal downwardlytoward said chamber, a series of can hooks revolvable about an axiswithin said chamber, a feed drum having a helical projection extendinginto one side of said chute, said drum being directly engageable withthe open and edges and said projection being rollably engageable withthe lower curved side portions of the successive cans iassing throughsaid chute to retard the travelot upper cans and to deliver thesuccessive lower cans in definitely spaced relation between said hooksin succession, and means associated with the opposite side of loo saidchute for urging the successive cans into operative engagement with saidprojection.

5. In combination, means forming a chamber and a chute for delivering asuccession of cylindrical cans with their axes horizontal downwardlytoward said chamber, a series of can hooks revolva-ble about an axiswithin said chamber, an element rotatable about a substantially verticalaxis and having a helical projection with which the successive canspassing through said chute are rollably engageable so as to retard thetravel of upper cans and to deliver the successive lower cans singly andin definitely spaced relation between said hooks in succession, andmeans associated with said chute above said projection. for urging thesuccessive cans toward the axis of rotation of and into operativeengagement with said projection.

(i. In combination, means forming" a chamber and a chute for deliveringa succession of cylindrical cans with their axes horizontal downwardlytoward said chamber a series of can hooks revolvable about an axis'ithin said chamber, a feed drum having a helical projection extendinginto said chute, said drum being engageable with the ends and saidprojection being engageable with the lower side portions of thesuccessive cans passing through said chute to retard the travel of uppercans and. to deliver the successive lower cans in definitely spaced relation between said hooks in succession, and means associated with saidchute above said drum for urging the successive cans toward the axis ofrotation of and into operative engagement with said drum and saidprojection.

7. A device for supporting and releasing successive elements,comprising, a single revolvable upright feed screw adapted to support astack of elements on its thread at one side of the stack and tosuccessively remove the elements from the bottom of the stack and thenrelease the same, and stationary means at the opposite side of the stackfor urging the successive elements onto the thread of said screw.

8. A device for supporting and releasing successive elements comprising,a revolvable upright teed screw adapted to support a stack ofcylindrical elements having parallel axes on its thread at one side onlyof the stack and to successively remove the lowermost elements from thestack and then release the same at equal intervals, and means at theopposite side of the stack for urging the successive elementslongitudinally of their axes onto the thread of said screw.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is affixed hereto.

OSVALD H. HANSEN.

